A Collection of 28 Lozi Baskets
Central East Africa, North-West Zambia
Circa 1880 - 1910
A Selection from a Collection of 29 Baskets
Woven from the roots of the makenge bush with the traditional dyed black designs these light weight, strong and easily portable containers were essential to everyday life in the Zambezi flood plain; the yearly migration to higher ground was necessary to survival and it is through these beautifully crafted baskets that this community have for hundreds of years found their artistic expression.
Christian missionaries were particularly active in Barotseland between 1885 and 1910 which is when they brought the majority of these “Barotse” baskets to Europe.
Heights ranging from 7 to 60 cm (2.75 in to 24 in)
Collections: Probably the largest museum collection of between 40 and 50 baskets was acquired by the American Museum
of Natural History in 1907
Bibliography: Anthropological Papers of the American Museum of Natural History Vol.II, part III Notes Concerning New Collections edited by Clark Wissler pub. New York by order of the Trustees April, 1909 page 51 and illus. page 353 plate XXI